AMA SX Racer James Stewart Arrested

Yamaha rider charged with impersonating an officer

By Motorcycle.Com StaffMar. 29, 2011

Two-time AMA Supercross Champion James Stewart was arrested in Florida on a charge of impersonating an officer.

The 25-year-old Stewart, who currently races for the San Manuel Yamaha team, was arrested March 28. According to Florida Highway Patrol, Stewart was driving a 2008 Toyota Tundra pickup truck on Florida State Route 417 outside Orlando when he allegedly attempted to stop another vehicle using police-type red and blue lights.

When the Tundra pulled alongside the vehicle, the driver and passenger of the vehicle turned out to be off-duty highway patrol officers. According to Florida Highway Patrol, the Tundra sped off after the officers identified themselves.

The officers in the vehicle called 911 and according to the Orlando Sentinel, an Orange County deputy sheriff and an Orlando police officer stopped Stewart at Orlando International Airport.

Stewart was placed under arrest and charged with impersonating a police officer while a passenger in the truck, identified as Thames Jehrrod Quinault, 44, of California, was arrested on a charge of tampering with evidence for allegedly hiding the police lights in his luggage. Stewart was released at 2:50 am March 29.

It’s not clear at this point how this arrest will impact Stewart for the current Supercross season. Stewart currently sits fourth in the 2011 AMA Supercross standings, but his recent on-track performance has been disappointing. After starting the season with six podium finishes the first seven rounds, including the first five rounds, Stewart has only appeared on the podium once in the last five rounds.